The main field at the Richmond County Youth Baseball Complex in Travis.

It was hardly surprising that Nick DeFendis was at the Richmond County Youth Baseball Complex when he answered his cell phone yesterday.

Or, that he asked the caller, "Hold on, please" while he talked to someone about paving.

"Around the concession stand to make the footing better," he explained later, adding: "We're working on the amenities."

Amenities were never a part of conversations when DeFendis first arrived in Travis, and with the cooperation of the ASA's Glen Payne, rescued the ASA complex which had degenerated to the point where Parks Department facilities looked like Yankee Stadium by comparison.

Initially, DeFendis was a solitary figure working there, and it was only a slight exaggeration to say he spent more time there than in his Great Kills home.

Now, Pete Guinta and George Quinn are there with him four, five, six days a week. And, Joe Sciacca, Pete Lauro, Joe Tauriello and Joe Senegate help out when they can.

Which explains why the Richmond County Youth Complex is rapidly approaching the caliber of those found when one heads over a bridges to the New Jersey suburbs.

The transformation hasn't solely been the result of a labor of love by a handful of diehards.

"A good number of people and community groups have helped us financially," DeFendis said. Chief among these are Adco Electric and City Councilman Jim Oddo, both of whom came up with $100,000.

"And, sometimes a dollar is really two dollars. When we put fencing up, it cost $50,000 for the fencing, but the Loporto Fence Company did the work for free."

Still, the organization takes heat for raising income by "renting" a field or fields to sports groups.

At other times, there's no fee.

For example, this past Wednesday signaled the end of a free six-week baseball clinic run by former St. Francis College coach Frank DelGeorge, and DeFendis has clinics Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. No fee. No registration. Just show up.

And, a week from today, Staten Island Supports Our Soldiers will take over the complex for a softball tournament to raise money for military families during the holiday season.

But there's more to the operation than nice fields. RCYB now has six baseball teams for players ranging from ages 9 to 18. Most of those teams play not only in the Staten Island United Federation leagues but also travel.

And, in this era of kids' parents coaching -- or worse -- from the stands, there's a code of conduct kids and their parents sign off on. Violate the code; take your act elsewhere.

DeFendis and company have no interest in producing future major leaguers.

"Maybe one kid in 1,000 will make it to the major leagues," he said.

So for their kids, the approach is have fun and develop a work ethic while learning to play the game, get good grades in school, and go to college.

"Every kid on our 18-year-old team is in college and getting some kind of financial help," Guinta said.

Which says something about the persistence of Mike Lopiparo who follows up once a school shows interest in a player.

Getting to this point hasn't been an easy road for DeFendis, whose passion sometimes has rubbed people the wrong way or, worse yet, subjects him and his organization to unfair -- and occasionally, untrue -- criticism.

But to him and his people, it's a small price to pay for all that's been accomplished with the complex and especially with the kids.

The Staten Island Supports Our Soldiers tourney will be a family outing with a moon bounce and face-painting for youngsters and a DJ. Members of the military will be there, so those in attendance will have an opportunity to thank them personally.